Monday, November 13, 2006

Courtney Lead Slashed to 66 Votes

From the wires:
Democrat Joe Courtney's lead in the 2nd Congressional District dropped to 66 votes Monday after officials in Lebanon discovered a math error that had given him 100 extra votes over Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, an election official said.

"It was human error," said Lebanon election moderator John Bendoraitis. "It was strictly misreading one number on one machine."
[...]
Bendoraitis said the error happened when an official on election night read the vote total on one of six machines as 363 votes for Courtney when it should have been 263.

Hang on to your hats, folks, this one is still not over.

Source
"Error narrows Courtney lead to 66 votes in 2nd District." Associated Press

30 comments:

Genghis Conn said...

It really isn't out of the question at all. One more transposed number or misread, and Simmons stays in Congress.

We're getting close to Ed Munster territory here.

Anonymous said...

reports from Simmons camp has deficit is under 60 now.

Anonymous said...

It really isn't out of the question at all. One more transposed number or misread, and Simmons stays in Congress.

But on the flipside, there could also be a misread number that favors Courtney...

Anonymous said...

Democrats trying to steal this election!!! I smell fraud here. Those computer machines were rigged in Vernon...funny how it is Courtney's hometown. Do you see how stupid that sounds all of you liberals out there?

I just think it is hilarious that when the Democrat wins by a razor thin margin everything is fair and square..when a Republican wins Dems automatically think fraud and voter supression.

Anonymous said...

What's the CT law on absentee ballots? Must they be "received by" Election Day? Or "postmarked by" Election Day?

Genghis Conn said...

Hotline is saying Simmons has picked up 105 votes today. Courtney lead down to 60.

Anonymous said...

THE SUSPENSE IS KNAWING AT ME.... 100 vote error could easily be a 1000 vote error-- then again, it could go the other way just as easily....

What towns are left to report their canvass numbers?

Anonymous said...

I was turned away at the polls in Vernon. They said I wasn't registered, but I voted there two years ago...I am or thought I was a registered Republican and wanted to vote for Simmons.

Gabe said...

Anon 248 - That is the third report of heard of someone in your situation. The proper procedure is to offer voters who show up at the polls and aren't on the voter rolls a provisional ballot. It really seems to not be happening and its a shame. If I were you, I would call and complain to the Secretary of State's office. The only way this issue will be resolved in the future is if awareness spreads...

Anonymous said...

The right wing zealots over at www.yournews2.com are claiming that simmons has this thing under 60 votes? I think they are tight with simmons' campaign manager, chris healy. This is scary

Anonymous said...

I don't recall what the exact number is, but the towns that recounted on Friday and Saturday had nickel-and-dimed the margin down to 159 or 160 (from the original 167). So the 100-vote swing today means that the margin should be right around 60.

Anonymous said...

actually it is under 60 votes maybe you should read the actual post instead of spitting out your dribble of nothingness. People like you are scary!

Anonymous said...

so when is this thing going to be done?

Anonymous said...

Who cares if this thing is under 66 votes. By tomorrow morning only less than 10 town will be recounting thier votes. There is no way Simmons picks up that many votes.

Anonymous said...

The reason why Democrats get angry about voter fraud is that the errors always seem to favor Republicans.... that and Republicans try to suppress the vote.

Less an issue here than in Republican governed states.

Anonymous said...

Anon 359 -

I don't buy the "repressed votes" by Republicans. Libs cry it all the time yet no one seems to be able to make a case for it...anywhere.

And at least Republicans don't pay homeless people off with packs of cigarettes or find ways for dead people to make it out to the polls.

Anonymous said...

What happens if thier is a tie?

I know durring the primary there was a tie in a local house race in groton and the town flipped a coin to determine the winner.

Anonymous said...

Please stop your whining you libs. It's funny that whether it is "repressed votes" or corruption it is only a problem when it happens to Republicans. Democrats have no problem with Hevesi, Menendez, Hastings or Jeffereson...all won re-election yet Democrats had no problem voting for them. If corruption was really the concerns of liberals they would have called for their ouster.

Anonymous said...

As on Monday over 20 towns had recounted thier votes and Simmons only picked up one vote. The game is over for Simmons!!

GMR said...

What about gerrymandering Texas and Georgia? C'mon now.

Most states have wacky gerrymandered districts. It's a huge incumbent protection scheme. When I look at the results of each house race around the country, what is surprising is how few were even remotely competitive. Connecticut is not normal in that 3 of the 5 seats are not safe for either party. Larson's and DeLauro's seats are iron-clad safe for the Democrats, unless either one is involved in a major scandal.

Connecticut does not have partisan gerrymandering.

Anonymous said...

Wow, ProgCT, the election is over, your party had a great day and yet you still spew this stupid crap. Maybe you should take a break from blogging, go somewhere and relax. Jeesh.

ProgCT said: "It is amusing to see the GOPers who are in favor of this recount yet talked trash about others in the past."

This is a recount guarenteed by law and all votes MUST be recounted; by contrast, and I assume you are talking about 2000 (get over it already), Gore filed suit and asked for only certain votes to be recounted, not all. f you can't see the difference then you need glasses.

ProgCT said: "Repressed votes? What about having 1 voting machine for 100 voters in a wealthy white suburban district and 1 for thousands in a poor urban district?"

An excellent point! I am sure you have brought it up with the SOTS Susan B. (a Democrat) because it is her job. Or perhaps the majority in the legislature could pass a bill requiring a certain number of voting booths per 100 voters. Either way, in CT, your complaint is with the Democrats. (I guess you are too clueless to see that huh?)

Anonymous said...

A359 said - "Republicans try to suppress the vote."

You're right. I hate it when those racist Republicans refuse to let people vote simply because they have no valid ID and cannot prove they are who they say they are. Darn those Republicans for wanting to stick to the rules. I mean, we should just let anyone who shows up vote and take their word for it, no one is trying to cheat the system. But no not those nasty Republicans!

Anonymous said...

I think the previous poster was referencing "warmongering" to Joe Lieberrman. However, Simmons tried to make ties to him in his own radio ads. I think they are both the same person.

Thanks to all the republicans and out of touch unaffiliated voters voting for two douchebags, we have one talking like a reupblican on meet the press yesterday, while the other is about to thankfully lose in the recount.

Anonymous said...

Simmons just picked up 9 in Glastonbury. Inching closer....

Gabe said...

Anon 423 - CT does not require ID unless the voter registered by mail and has not voted in any previous federal election. For the average voter, they can show up with no ID and sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury that they are who they say they are. The relevant statute is Conn Gen Stat 9-261.

Gabe said...

Anon 402 -

Funny you should mention paying off homeless people (not funny haha) - Republicans in Maryland are being blasted for busing 7 busloads of homeless people in from Philly to hand out campaign misleading flyers thatimplied that Steele and Erlich were Democrats.

Anonymous said...

"campaign misleading flyers that implied that Steele and Erlich were Democrats."

I fail to see your point- The number of flyers or radio ads that showed up (or I heard) were remarkable in regards to what person was in what party (aside from Ned Lamont of course)

Anonymous said...

Connecticut does not have partisan gerrymandering.

LOL

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Gabe said...

I have no clue what you are talking about - I was replying to this: "And at least Republicans don't pay homeless people off with packs of cigarettes or find ways for dead people to make it out to the polls."

It turns out they use the homeless to hand out fliers in Dem-leaning neighborhoods that identify the Republican Gov. and Sen. candidates as Dems. Stay classy!